REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE USE OF THE LIBRARY

The libraryis the core organ in any academic institution. It supports academic activities carried out by scholars and students. The Regulations for the Library, therefore, aim at creating a conducive atmosphere for users as well as protecting the contents from any form of vandalism.

The Regulations which follow are subject to revision as the University of Livingstonia deems fit from time to time.

Opening Hours

The library shall open as follows:

During Semester

Monday to Friday08:00 – 21:00 hours
Saturday08:00 – 12:00 hours
SundaysClosed

During Vacation

Monday to Friday08:00 – 17:00 hours
SaturdaysClosed
SundaysClosed

The Library will be closed on Sundays including on all public holidays and holidays recognized by the Synod of Livingstonia and the Malawi Government.

Membership

  • All registered full and part-time students of the University of Livingstonia
  • All senior academic (including part-time lecturers) and administrative staff of the University of Livingstonia and their spouses
  • All members of the University of Livingstonia Council
  • Junior or Clerical, Technical and Support Staff of the University of Livingstonia who have been duly recommended to the University or College Librarian by their heads of department
  • Non-members of the University of Livingstonia, whose applications for membership have been approved on behalf of the University Library Committee (a Committee of Senate), College Library Committee by the University or College Librarian and upon payment of a non-refundable annual registration to be determined by the University from time to time. Their applications will have to be accompanied by a written guarantee from the employers.
  • Members of the public who may use the Library for reference purposes at the discretion of the University or College Librarian.
  • International researchers who are not affiliated with any faculty or department of the University of Livingstonia shall pay a non-refundable fee to be determined by the university from time to time for the use of the Library for a period of three months.

Registration

  • One shall be a bonafide member of the Library if he or she registers with the library personnel upon completion of the registration card at the Main Issue Counter
  • Continuing students shall enjoy all the privileges of using the Library upon clearing outstanding debts with the University.

Borrowing Library Materials

  • To borrow any item from the University/College Library, a registered member shall present the item at the Issue Counter together with his or her Identity Card and one of the borrowing pockets
  • All registered members shall be held responsible for any loss or damage of the item they borrow
  • Books from the Reference Section shall not be taken out of the Library
  • Unbound or loose periodicals shall not be borrowed from the Library, except under special circumstances approved by the University Librarian.
  • Library pockets are not transferable moreover, they shall not be used at another campus under University of Livingstonia
  • The University/College Librarian reserves the right to recall any item for any reason before due date with or without notice.

4.1.1    Books from the General Collection

All registered borrowers are allowed to borrow from the General Collection as follows, except for materials on Reserve or Short Loan Collection:

Member categoryNo. of booksLoan period in weeks
Academic staff88
Senior administrators88
Graduates42
Undergraduates44
External borrowers24

A fine shall be imposed for failure to return the book/item during the stipulated time with or without notice. Disciplinary action shall be taken for those who fail to return Library materials within seven day of sending thema reminder

Short Loan/ Reserve Collection

  • Books placed on the Reserve or Short Loan Collection shall be used within the Library on a two hour loan period
  • One shall only be entitled to one item on Short Loan at any one time
  • No person shall use other persons pocket for borrowing items from the Short Loan Collection.
  • Books on the Reserve Collection may be issued for overnight 30 minutes before the Library closes
  • Books on Reserve taken overnight shall be returned within 30 minutes of opening the Library the next day.
  • Keeping Short Loan items overdue shall attract a fine to be determined by the University.
  • Repeated cases of keeping Short Loan items overdue shall attract disciplinary action.

End of Semester

  • Students shall return all the materials for the Library at the end of Semester.
  • Students shall be required to clear with the Library at the end of each Semester

General Rules and Discipline

  • Silence must be observed in the Library at all times.
  • All readers must enter the Library through the Authorized Entrance.
  • The following items should not be taken into the Library:

cell phones,  radios, bags, brief cases, dispatch case/wallets of over 8” x  5” in size or attached cases, hats, top coats, umbrella, musical equipment of any kind and any other items as may be determined by the University or College Librarian. These items must be kept in the Cloak-Room, next to the Library guards at the EXIT, and at the owner’s risk.

  • Smoking, eating, drinking and entering the Library while drunk are prohibited.
  • Library guards and other Library staff have the right to inspect any Library user within the Library building at any time.
  • All items, including personal books and papers or files being taken out of the Library, must be shown to the Guard on duty at the EXIT.
  • Leaving of personal valuable items such as calculators, money, purses, watches, cellular phones, etc. in the Cloak-Room shall be at the owner’s risk.
  • Movement of Library materials from proper areas to other areas for selfish ends will incur severe punishment, based on the University/College Librarian’s discretion.
  • The use of matches or open-light in any section of the Library is prohibited.
  • Knives, razor blades, and any other sharp objects are not to be taken into the Library.
  • Readers must dress decently and behave in a manner that will cause neither offense nor damage to the Library building or the materials. Thus, for example, the removal of shirts, the placing of feet on furniture, and the wearing of high-heeled shoes are forbidden.

Library Offences

  • Any person who removes any Library item or any part thereof from the Library without permission shall be guilty of theft.
  • Any person who receives or retains any Library material(s) which he or she knows, or ought to know, or has reason to believe to have been stolen from the Library, shall be guilty of an offence.
  • Any person who mutilates, marks or disfigures any Library materials shall be guilty of an offence.
  • Any person who makes noise in the Library or acts in any manner that disturbs other Library users shall be guilty of an offence.

Library Penalties

  • If the person who is guilty of the offence specified in paragraphs 1 and 2 under 4.6 is a student of the University of Livingstonia, he or she shall be liable to dismissal from the University in addition to any other penalty which may be imposed by the University Disciplinary Committee.
  • If the person who is guilty of the offences specified in paragraphs 1 and 2 under 4.6 is a member of staff of the University of Livingstonia, the case shall be reported to the University or College Disciplinary Committee.
  • If the person who is guilty of the offence specified in paragraph 2 under 4.6 is not a member of staff or a student of the University of Livingstonia, he or she shall be banned from membership of the Library for such period as the Vice Chancellor, upon recommendation of the UniversityLibrarian or the UniversityLibrary Committee, may determine.
  • If the person who is guilty of the offence specified in paragraph 3 under 4.6 is a student of the University of Livingstonia, he or she shall be liable to dismissal, in addition to payment for full cost of the item, including handling charges. However, the Vice Chancellor may impose a lesser penalty, depending on facts of the case.
  • If the person who is guilty of the offence specified in paragraph 3 under 4.6 is a member of staff of the University of Livingstonia, the matter will be referred to the University of Livingstonia Disciplinary Committee for appropriate disciplinary action.
  • If the person who is guilty of the offence specified in paragraph 3 under 4.6 is an outsider, the Vice Chancellor shall impose an appropriate penalty on recommendation of the University Librarian.
  • Any person, who is guilty of the offence specified in paragraph 4 under 4.6, shall be liable to suspension from the use of the Library for a minimum of three months, in addition to any other penalties which may be imposed by the Vice Chancellor.

Failure to return borrowed materials on due dates or times

  1. Any person who fails to return any item in General Circulation shall pay a fine of Fifty Kwacha (K50.00) per item, per day until the item is returned or the person indicates that he or she has lost it.
  2. Any person who fails to return a Reserve item on the stipulated time shall attract a fine of Twenty Kwacha (K20.00) per book/per hour overdue or part thereof.
  3. Any person who loses any Library item shall pay the full cost of replacing the lost item, including handling and other incidental charges.
  4. Any person who fails to return any Library item which has been duly recalled within four days from the date on which the recall is made shall pay a fine prescribed by the university from time to time.

Miscellaneous

  1. Any Library user who loses his or her Reader’s Ticket(s) may be issued with replacement Ticket(s), provided that he or she pays for the Replacement Tickets(s) at K50.00 per ticket.
  2. Examination results of any student who owes money to the University of Livingstonia as a result of a fine imposed under these Regulations shall be withheld until such fine(s) is or are paid in full.
  3. The fines provided for under these Regulations are subject to revision by the University of Livingstonia Library Committee or the Council of the University of Livingstonia from time to time, provided that Library users shall be notified of any such revisions through public notice.